Concrete pipe making apparatus



April 20, 1954 P. M. MATICH 2,675,597 7 CONCRETE PIPE MAKING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIE II IN V EN TOR.

A ril 20, 1954 R M, MA C 2,675,597

CONCRETE PIPE MAKING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 19 55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Pare-Eff /74 new BY w m Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES FTNT ()FFICE I v I 2,675,597 x CONCRETE PIPE MAKING APPARATUS-i Peter Matich, san Jose, Calif. Application May 11, 1953; Serial No. 353,971

5 Claims.

-, The present invention relates to an improvement in'con'crete pipe making machines, and. per.- tains more particularly-to a platformand support structure tor the rotatable form in which-pipes of this character are made. i

It is common practice -in themanufacture of concrete pipe to employ-a rotatable cylindrical shell whichiorms-theouter portion of the pipe mold around-a stationary core. A steel mesh reinforcing element usually -is inserted in the space between-the-core and the rotatable -shell, especially in making the largerdiameters of pipe. Concrete is poured into the-space between the core and the shell during rotation of the shell, and at the same time the concrete is tamped down'asitis-Poured-into the mold space between the" shell and the core. Thisoperation forms extremely strongconcrete pipe. r

I In the past,--difiiculty has been experienced in rotating the shell When'moldin -the-larger sizes of pipe, since a great amount of friction is caused bythe rotation ofthebottom-ofthe shell'on-the steel plate platform upon which it revolves, and also between the stationary core and the inner faceof the rotating concrete pipe as it is being formed Various attempts have been made in the past to provide suitable rolling-support for therotating shell, but such supports soon'fill up or become fouled with concrete which spillsover the side ofthe form'and eventually are worse than the smooth metalbase plate, whichat-least is easily cleaned g.

The present invention contemplates the provision-of animproved concrete pipe-making machine; Another object-of the invention is to support the rotatable shell of a concrete pipe making machine on roller supports 'whichare easily adjusted to provide proper support for the shell bottom and which-may be withdrawn into the base plateand shielded from the entrance of cement or sandinto their rotative portions, the shielding means being flush with the-base plate.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followin description -and the accompanying drawings, wherein" i Fig. -1--is a side elevational view of a concrete pipe-making machine embodying the present invention,- portions 'beingbroken'away and a steel plate floor structure being shown sectionally.

Fig. 2 is a'horizontal sectional view in reduced scale taken'along line 22 of Fi .1; j

Fig. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view' taken-along line 3"-3 of Fig, 1.

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary elevationalview look.- ing in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in Fig. 1, portions being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a reduced sectional view t ken along line 5.-5 of Fig. l.

.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view 0n.:the same scale as Fig. 2, of a section of concrete pipe made 'on the machine shown in Figs; 1 to 5 inclusive, the reinforcing steel ordinarily provided in'such pipes bein omitted .for the purposeof simplifying the drawings. v.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a concrete pipe makin machine A (Fig; l) embodying the present invention, comprises a stationary core member B and a cylindrical shell- C mounted to rotate with a circular base'plate Qupon which the. shell C is mounted. Concret is poured into' the space between the core B and the shell C and is rammed solidly therein and finished oif'onthe ends'in a manner to be described later herein. The machine A is mounted over a customary pit it) with steel floor plates II and Na reinforced by atransverse I-beam I2. v A pair of laterally spaced vertical standards I3I3 (Figs. 2 and 4) of channel-cross sectional shape are mounted on the base plate I I to overlie the Ibeam I2. A transversely extending box beam It is mounted for vertical slidable adjustment between the standards I3I3. of the-transverse beam are notched out as-at I5, IE to receive the upright standards I3,'-l 3 therein.

The transverse beam I4 is'secured in desired ver--" tically adjusted position onthe standards I3, I3 by-apair of studs I1, I! (Figs; 1 and 4); Each stud I'I- has a threaded portion l8 adjacent the head Illa thereof for screwing into a-s'electedone of a plurality of threaded holes 20 provided at spaced intervals alo'ngthe standards I3,-I3'. The inner end portions 21 of the studs H are of reduced diameter and are unthrea'ded to extend into the ends'of the box beam M- (Fig; 4) and secure-it at a desired adjustedheight.

For raising and lowering the box beam and a tamping head assembly D mounted-thereon; a hydraulic cylinder 22 with extensible piston rod 23 is mounted on the base plate I I over the reinforcing I-beam I2. The cylinder 22 is secured to the base plates II and Ila and the piston-rod 23 to the transverse beam 14. by 'screws- 24,14 (Figsrl and 4). Usual hydraulic controls-(not shown) are provided toactuate'the piston rod 23 within the cylinder 22 toelevate or lower the box" beam I4 and the tampin headv assembly. D mounted thereon in a conventional manner. The 'tampin head D comprises a large diam- The ends eter cylindrical drum 2'! mounted on a friction reducing bearing 28 on the box beam M over the piston rod 23. The upper end of the drum Zl is pivotally mounted co-axially with the lower bearing 28 on a second friction reducing bearin 28a secured to the underside of an upper transverse box section beam 29. The upper beam 29 is generally similar to the lower box beam l4, and is mounted in a similar manner for vertical slidable movement on the standards l3, it.

The tamping head structure D comprises a motor support bracket 3| welded to extend laterally from the lower end of the cylindrical drum 21, and a suitable electric motor &2 is mounted on the bracket. The motor 32 has driving connection through grooved pulleys 33 and and V-belts 35, 35 with a shaft 36 journaled in bearings 31, 31 mounted one in each end of a casing 38, which extends transversely through the drum 21. The opposite end of the shaft 36 from that having the pulley 3 thereon has a disk .39 mounted: coaxially thereon .with an eccentric pin 40 mounted therein to extend outwardly therefrom.

A diagonal bracing member .41 iswelded to extend from the upper end of the .drum 2''! to the top of the casingts substantially midway between the drum .2? and .the router or right hand end of the casing as'shown in Fig. 1.

The upper end .of a connecting rod 42 is iournaled on the eccentric pinddand its lower end is journaled on a pin 413 secured to extend laterally from a pneumatic clamping member 54. This pneumatic clamping member is of a conventional type for gripping a wooden tamping rod 45 and is slidably mountedto reciprocate on a pair of vertical rods 4.5., only one of which is visible in Fig. 1. The rods 4,6 are secured to extend vertically between ,a pair of horizontally extending arms 41 and 48 secured to the, drum 21. A vertical brace bar 49 connects the centers of the arms 41 and 48. I I

The pneumatic clamping member 44 has usual clamping jaws (not shown) which ar pneumatically actuated to grip the tamping bar 45. The tamping bar is of hardwood with its lower end somewhat rounded to ram up the concrete as it is poured into the space between the stationary core B and the rotating shell .0.

.It is customary in making concrete pipe of this type to employ a cylindrical steel mesh or rod reinforcement which fits into the space between the core B andthe shell C' and is embedded in the pipe when formed. However, since this type of reinforcement is well known, it is omitted from the present case for the sake of simplicity.

The rotary shell C comprises a customary pair of semi-cylindrical shell half members 50 and 5| secured together by encircling bands 52, the ends of which are drawn together by screws 53 to secure the two semi-cylindrical half members 50 and 5! firmly together. The lower ends of the cylindrical shell half members 50 and 5| fit into a circular recess provided therefore in the circular base plate 9 which at its center has driving connection with a square shaft 55. The lower end portion 55a of the shaft 55 is round and is journaled in a bearing 51 secured to the under side of the base plate H. The .upper end (not shown) of the shaft. 55 also is round and is similarly journaled in an upper bearing, not shown. v

The. shaft 55 is driven by bevel gears 59 and 60 .from a shaft .6] journaled in a bearing Ma secured to the under side of the base plate H. The opposite end of the shaft 6| is driven by suitable transmission gearing (not shown) mounted in a conventional gear housing 52. The gear housing G2 is mounted on a beam 63 provided therefor in the pit Ill over which the machine A is mounted.

The gearing in the gear housing 62 is driven by a shaft M from a variable speed transmission gearing, not shown, similar to an ordinary automobile truck type transmission mounted in a housing 65. Selection of the gears in the housing 65 is made by a usual gear shift lever 65a. The transmission gearing in turn is driven by shaft 6! which is connected to a suitable prime mover inot'shown) such as a conventional elec trio-motor of suitable horsepower.

A strike-off plate 10 is mounted on the upper end of the core B just ahead of a concrete pouring spout ll, so that when the cylindrical space between the .core B and theshell ;C becomes filled. the plate '19 willstrike .oif .excessxconcreteand will trowel the upper end of the concrete :pipe section formed in the space between the corefi and shell C to the cross sectional shape shown at the upper end of the pipe E of Fig.

The lower end of the pipe is molded by? usual molding r n 12 .(Fig. 1) inserted in the bottom of the space between the core :1 and shell C to .ashape vo In13Lementary:tc that of the upper end of the pipe so that successive vsece ion of pipe f t am di m ter willhaveinterfitted relation-when laid in coaxial mist-3490.- sition to each other. 1

For making i e sections of, difierentdiamr eters, the core B, shell Qbottom form n rin 12;, and rotary base plate 9 are removed and others of desired diameters are substituted llilieree for. Customarily, forms are provided to manufacture pipe varying diameter from approximately one foot to six feet.

In ak n the m lle amet rs .o p pe, t e power provided to rotate the base plate 9 and shell C, together with the mass of concrete being built up in the space between the stationary core B and the rotating shell C, is relatively small. Therefore, in the-makingof these smaller sizes .of pipe it is not necessary to provide friction reducing means between the rotary base,

plate 3 and the floor plate ii. However, as the diameter of 1 the pipe being manufactured in; creases, the frictional drag caused by them];- bing of the base plate 9 on the floor plate H when no friction reducingmeans is provided becomes tremendous. The result isthat the machines frequently break down or stall, requiring considerable periods of shutdown with resultant loss of capacity during the shutdown time cf the machines.

The friction reducing means provided by the present invention comprises a plurality of roller support brackets 75, one of which is provided beneath each'of a plurality ,of holes H in :the floor plate 1 i. r

Archer 78 is .journaled on a shaft 18a in each of these brackets with its axis of'rotation disposed along a radius from the center ofrotation of the square, upright shaft 55. The sides surrounding each hole 1'! are sloped inwardly toward their bottom edges, andaclosure-plate l9 isprovided for fitting into each of the holes TI to seal it off when the roller therefore is retracted to an inactive position below the floor plate H.

Each roller shaft 18a is mounted (Fig. 3) o n a yoke 80 which in turn is slidably mounted in slots 8| provided in the sides of each bracket 15. An adjusting screw 82 is threaded through the lower end of each of the brackets to bear against the center of its associated roller support yoke 86 and is secured in vertically adjusted position by means of a lock nut 83. It is not necessary to provide rollers 78 for the smaller diameters of pipe to be manufactured, and in the illustrations of Fig. 2 it may be assumed that the innermost of the rollers are for supporting the rotary base plate 9 for making a pipe section approximately three feet in diameter.

The three sets of rollers 18a, 18b, and 180, shown in Fig. 2, may be used selectively to support the base plates 9 and shells C for the manufacture of the larger diameters of pipe up to, for example, six feet or even more in diameter.

For making the smaller diameters of pipe for which it is unnecessary to use the rollers it, the adjusting screws 82 are screwed downwardly to lower the rollers 18 below the level of the floor plate II. The closure plates 79 then are put into the roller openings 1: above the lowered rollers to keep the lowered rollers and their supporting mechanism free of cement.

When it is desired to use a base plate 9 and shell C for manufacturing a large diameter of pipe as shown in Fig. 1, the outermost set of rollers 18 which will fit beneath the selected base plate 9 are then elevated, after removing the closure plates 19 thereover, by turning the screws 82 to elevate the yokes 80 and their supported rollers 78 to a height which brings their tops into supporting relation with the base plate 9 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The rollers 78 maintain the base plate 9 clear of the floor plate H by a distance which will prevent substantial frictional engagement with any concrete which may be spilled on the floor plate I I and pass beneath the rotary base plate 9.

The invention provides a free rolling support for the base plate 9 and the shell C supported thereon for even the largest sizes of pipe manufactured. The simple and positive elevating means and closure arrangements withstand indefinitely the severe usage to which they are put, and the closure plates may be easily freed from their seats even after a prolonged period in which they are subjected to accumulations of concrete and moisture.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a concrete pipe making machine of the type having a tamping head mounted for vertical adjustment over a floor plate, a stationary cylindrical core mounted in axially upright position adjacent the tamping head, a rotary base plate mounted in superposed relation over the floor plate and coaxially with the core, and a cylindrical shell mounted coaxially with and in driven relation with the base plate, and spaced from said core to provide a space for molding a concrete pipe section; said floor plate having a plurality of openings therein arranged symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the base plate, a bracket mounted beneath the floor plate to-span each roller opening therein, a roller support mounted in each of said brackets for vertical guided movement therein, a roller journaled in each roller support, adjusting means mounted to bear against each roller support selectively to elevate the roller into rolling supporting relation with a base plate extending thereover, and tolower the roller below the support plate, and a closure plate for each of the openings to seal the opening against the entrance of concrete therein.

2. In a concrete pipe making machine of the type having a tamping head mounted for vertical adjustment, a stationary cylindrical core mounted in axially upright position, a rotary base plate mounted in superposed relation over the floor plate and coaxially with the core, and a cylindrical shell mounted coaxially with and indriven relation with the base plate, and spaced from said core to provide a space for molding a concrete pipe section; said floor plate having a plurality of openings therein arranged symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the base plate, a bracket mounted beneath the floor plate to span each roller opening therein, said bracket having a vertical guideway therein, a yoke mounted in each of said brackets for vertical guided movement in the guideway therein, a roller journaled in each yoke, an adjusting screw mounted in each bracket to bear against the underside of the yoke therein, selectively to elevate the roller into rolling supporting relation with a base plate extending thereover, and to lower the roller below the support plate, means for securing the screw and its supported parts in adjusted position, and a closure plate for each of the openings to seal the opening against the entrance of concrete therein.

3. In a concrete pipe making machine of the type having a rotary pipe mold and tamping means adjustably mounted over a floor plate, said floor plate having a plurality of openings therein arranged symmetrically at a plurality of predetermined distances radially from the axis of rotation of the mold, a roller mounting bracket mounted beneath the floor plate adjacent each roller opening therein, a roller support adjustably mounted in each of said brackets, a roller journaled in each roller support, and adjusting means mounted to bear against each roller support selectively to elevate the roller into rolling, supporting relation with the mold, and to lower the roller below the support plate, means for securing the screw and its supported parts in adjusted position, and a closure plate for each of the openings to seal the opening against the entrance of concrete therein.

4. In a concrete pipe making machine of the type having a stationary cylindrical core member, a rotary shell surrounding said core member and spaced outwardly therefrom to provide a space between the core member and the shell for molding a concrete pipe section therein, a vertically adjustable tamping head assembly, having a tamping element thereof positioned to extend into the space between the core and the shell, a rotary base plate with its axis of rotation co-incident with the shell axis, and a floor plate mounted over a pit for supporting said base plate; said floor plate having a plurality of openings therein disposed in symmetrical arrangement about the axis of rotation of the base plate and spaced at selected intervals therefrom, a roller mounted in each of said openings with its axis disposed along a radius from the axis of rotation of the base plate, each of the rollers being vertically adjustable from an elevated position wherein its periphery projects above the fioor plate into rolling contact with said rotary base plate to a position below the floor plate, and a removable closure member for flush mounting with the floor plate in each of the roller openings therein.

5. In a concrete pipe making machine of the type having a stationary cylindrical core member, a rotary shell surrounding said core member and spaced outwardly therefrom to provide a space between the core member and the shellfor molding a concrete pipe section therein, a vertically adjustable tamping head assembly having a tamping element thereof positioned to extend into the space between the core and the shell, a rotary base plate with its axis of rotation co-incident with the shell axis, and a floor plate mounted over a pit for supporting said base plate; said floor plate having a plurality of openings therein disposed in symmetrical arrangement about the axis of rotation of the base plate and spaced at selected intervals therefrom, a roller mounted in each of said openings with its axis disposed along a radius from the axis of rotation of the base plate, each of the rollers being vertically adjustable from an elevated position wherein their peripheries project above the floor plate into rolling contact with said rotary base plate to a position below the floor plate, a removable closure member for flush mounting with the floor plate in each of the roller openings therein,

and roller actuating means mounted beneath the floor plate for forcing a roller upwardly to elevate its closure member clear of the floor plate and to bring the roller into rolling supporting relation with the base plate.

No references cited. 

